I'm surprised to hear the difference. I am an ordinary, low-cost listener. I did not expect I am able to hear difference between these two high-quality preamps. Did it really not affect the microphones or its configuration, for example a slightly different angle? Did you try to switch the microphones to the opposite preamp during a concert? I only ask because I am really surprised. I prefer #1. I thought the main emphasis was to make these expensive preamps neutral. But maybe it has some limits.

I'm surprised to hear the difference. I am an ordinary, low-cost listener. I did not expect I am able to hear difference between these two high-quality preamps. Did it really not affect the microphones or its configuration, for example a slightly different angle? Did you try to switch the microphones to the opposite preamp during a concert? I only ask because I am really surprised. I prefer #1. I thought the main emphasis was to make these expensive preamps neutral. But maybe it has some limits.

Everything else in the chain (microphones, nbob actives, PFA) was identical. And we used the same fixed angle bars, pictures of which are linked on the first page of the thread. The microphones were inches apart from one another on the stand.

As noted above, this is about as perfect a comp as you are going to find, unless you actually split the signal of a single pair of transducers.

I like sample 1 slightly better.. at least at work through AT in-ears plugged straight into the computer. Interesting that after voting and viewing the results it appears sample 1 is the underdog by a significant margin. Should be interesting to re-listen at home though through a few sets of high-quality headphones at lease. My big-speaker playback system remains packed away since the hurricane threat here last fall. Will report back if that changes my judgment.

I'll post the subjective assessment I shared with Noah and Nick after a second listen at home through my "good 'phones", even though it didn't change the initial judgement I posted above-

I still prefer file 1. It has better sense of spatial clarity, separation of sources, and initial transient edges. File 2 is less 3-dimensional and more homogeneous. I confirmed this subjective assessment and preference through rapid A/B switching while listening critically, and also though more casual longer-term listening, the latter consisting of both focused listening as well as distracted "background music" listening. I end up with the same preference for file 1 in all cases. It's not earth-shattering, but a significant enough difference which I quickly became well-enough adapted to that I could pretty rapidly identify which was which correctly each time upon randomizing the stimulus. The more I listened the easier it became to confirm a preference for file 1.

I listened to the two files again after voting for file 2. I still prefer 2 for the over all recording but I found the vocals on file 1 to be a little more present. I listened a few different ways (headphones with a GeekOut 450 DA on my laptop, on my Marantz stereo (with satellite speakers) and on my laptop with its crappy speakers. I felt the same way listening each way.

Suffice to say, both recordings are excellent and the difference between the two recordings is minimal to me. I'll still standby saying I like file 2 better "as a whole."